Device and Method for Controlling a Vehicle Function of a Vehicle

Abstract

A device for controlling a vehicle function of a vehicle includes a steering device for manual lateral control of the vehicle, wherein the steering device has at least one touch sensor, which is designed to detect sensor data relating to a touching of the steering device by a driver of the vehicle. The device is designed to determine sensor data of the touch sensor and to carry out a hands-on detection for the steering device based on the sensor data of the touch sensor. As well as the hands-on detection, the device is also designed to operate a vehicle function of the vehicle according to the sensor data.

1 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A device for controlling a vehicle function of a vehicle, comprising:
 a steering device for manual lateral control of the vehicle, the steering device comprising at least one touch sensor that acquires sensor data with respect to a touch of the steering device by a driver of the vehicle; and   a control unit operatively configured to:
 ascertain the sensor data of the touch sensor; 
 carry out a hands-on recognition for the steering device based on the sensor data of the touch sensor; and 
 in addition to the hands-on recognition, operate a vehicle function of the vehicle in dependence on the sensor data. 
   
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 17 , wherein
 the steering device comprises at least one rod-shaped steering device segment, designed for the manual lateral control of the vehicle, to be touched by the driver of the vehicle at different touch positions along a linear touch region, and   the control unit is configured to:
 ascertain, on the basis of the sensor data of the touch sensor, the touch position, at which the driver of the vehicle touches the rod-shaped steering device segment; and 
 operate the vehicle function of the vehicle in dependence on the touch position. 
   
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein the control unit is configured to:
 effectuate an optical representation on a display screen of the vehicle depending on the touch position; and/or   set and/or adapt a perspective of a representation of surroundings of the vehicle reproduced on a display screen of the vehicle, and/or an external view of the vehicle in dependence on the touch position.   
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein the control unit is configured to:
 detect a change of the touch position on the rod-shaped steering device segment on the basis of the sensor data of the touch sensor; and   in reaction thereto, adapt a perspective of the visual representation on the display screen.   
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein
 the rod-shaped steering device segment comprises at least one linear lighting element which extends along the linear touch region and generates light signals selectively in different partial regions of the linear lighting element; and   the control unit is configured to cause the lighting element to generate a light signal selectively at the ascertained touch position.   
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein the control unit is configured to:
 ascertain a time curve of the touch position on the basis of the sensor data of the touch sensor;   on the basis of the time curve of the touch position, detect a gesture which the driver of the vehicle effectuates by touching the rod-shaped steering device segment at different touch positions; and   operate the vehicle function in dependence on the detected gesture.   
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 22 , wherein at least one of:
 the gesture comprises a movement in a first direction along the rod-shaped steering device segment,   the gesture comprises a movement in an opposing second direction along the rod-shaped steering means segment, or   the gesture comprises a repeated alternating movement in the first direction and in the second direction along the rod-shaped steering means segment.   
     
     
         24 . The device according to  claim 22 , wherein
 the vehicle function comprises cleaning a surroundings sensor of the vehicle, and   the control unit is configured to effectuate the cleaning of the surroundings sensor in reaction to a detected gesture.   
     
     
         25 . The device according to  claim 24 , wherein
 the rod-shaped steering device segment comprises at least one linear lighting element, which extends along the linear touch region and generates light signals having different lengths, and   the control unit is configured to:   ascertain a required extent of the cleaning of the surroundings sensor; and   to adapt a length of the light signal generated by the lighting element in dependence on the required extent of the cleaning of the surroundings sensor.   
     
     
         26 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein the control unit is configured to:
 indicate on the basis of the length of the light signal generated by the lighting element, how frequently the driver has to repeat the gesture until the cleaning of the surroundings sensor is triggered; and/or   effectuate a change of the length of the light signal generated by the lighting element as a result of an execution of the gesture in dependence on the required extent of the cleaning of the surroundings sensor.   
     
     
         27 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein
 the control unit is configured to set and/or adapt a parameter value of a vehicle parameter settable within a specific value range in dependence on the touch position; and   the vehicle parameter comprises at least one of:   a parameter of an infotainment system and/or a climate control system of the vehicle;   a volume of an audio signal played back by the vehicle;   a component of highs and/or lows of an audio signal played back by the vehicle; or   a setpoint temperature in a passenger compartment of the vehicle.   
     
     
         28 . The device according to  claim 27 , wherein
 the rod-shaped steering device segment comprises at least one linear lighting element, which extends along the linear touch region and generates light signals having different lengths; and   the control unit is configured to set and/or adapt the length of the light signal generated by the lighting element in dependence on the parameter value.   
     
     
         29 . The device according to  claim 17 , wherein
 the steering device comprises a steering wheel having a steering wheel rim, and   the at least one touch sensor is designed to acquire sensor data with respect to a touch of the steering wheel rim by the driver of the vehicle.   
     
     
         30 . The device according to  claim 17 , wherein
 the control unit is configured to carry out the hands-on recognition on the basis of the sensor data of the touch sensor during operation of a driving function for at least partially automated driving of the vehicle, and/or   the vehicle function which is operated in dependence on the sensor data of the touch sensor is independent of the hands-on recognition and/or independent of the driving function for at least partially automated driving of the vehicle.   
     
     
         31 . The device according to  claim 17 , wherein at least one of:
 the vehicle function comprises output of an optical representation on a display screen of the vehicle,   the vehicle function comprises cleaning of a surroundings sensor of the vehicle, or   the vehicle function comprises setting of a vehicle parameter.   
     
     
         32 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein
 the rod-shaped steering device comprises a steering wheel rim.   
     
     
         33 . A method for controlling a vehicle function of a vehicle, which comprises a steering device for manual lateral control of the vehicle, wherein the steering device comprises at least one touch sensor designed to acquire sensor data with respect to a touch of the steering device by a driver of the vehicle,
 wherein the method comprises:   carrying out a hands-on recognition for the steering device on the basis of the sensor data of the touch sensor; and   in addition to the hands-on recognition, operating a vehicle function of the vehicle in dependence on the sensor data.